Rexy's A+ Rookie Class

       I really don't know what rookie class on what team Rex is looking at, 2 out of Idzik's (GM) first 3 picks were complete busts so far. Dee Milliner which Idzik used pick number 1 on is TERRIBLE so far; consistently and single handedly blowning so many coverages week in and week out he doesn't look to be improving at all and pick number 3... well #3 was used on Geno-need I say more?
         At this point we are obviously expecting way too much from a QB that just isn't up to the task. At 5-7 it really is kinda laughable to say the Jets are "in the hunt" just because they haven't been mathematically eliminated. With the Jets last 3 ass kickings in consecutive weeks by division foes (BUF -23 pts, BAL -16 pts, MIA -20 pts) its hard to even gauge exactly what the Jets need to do and exactly what chips need to fall in place here in week 14 to put the Jets in but I can tell what will put the Jets out... a loss today versus the Oakland Raiders. Next week I will post a more detailed playoff picture, assuming a win today, but as tough and gritty as I believe 99% of this team to be its looking to be a hill too steep for rookies Geno Smith and Dee Milliner(CB) to climb.

        Obviously its a lot to blame on a pair of rookies but you and I both watch these games; its Milliner way more than Cromartie getting blown away down field and its Geno that has a very dismal 8 TDs and 19 interceptions this season and has only completed 21 passes in the last 4 games with absolutely ZERO TDs! Geno is just not the guy, NY sports media (and myself) were clamoring for Geno to get yanked in favor for Simms this past week and our please were answered to absolutely no avail. Simms came in and stunk almost as much as Smith has. So who's up next? Of course now Jets media are talking a lot of Garrard but that is probably not going to be the answer for us, but unfortunately its damn sure is a better option than the Smith and Simms.
         Milliner, just like Smith doesn't get the picture no matter how many times he gets pulled. He has the pedigree coming in from Alibama and has great stats in college but they just haven't transferred to his time on the field for the NY Jets. He has the size, speed and athleticism to compete in the NFL so what is his problem? Supposedly playing somewhat injured but I really don't think that is it. Lack of mentor-ship is a big factor but with Cromartie on the other side of the field you couldn't ask for a better mentor. Now with Ed Reed joining the secondary I have become a lot more optimistic but I will save my judgement on how well he is absorbing this knowledge until after this game. I said in the beginning of the season that Milliner seemed like the kind of guy that would let his first round pick status go to his head and I really think that has played a lot into his mindset. Now that he has gotten burned so much so often I have to hope he has been brought back down to earth and will accept the mentor-ship from 2 really great pro-bowl players he is now surrounded by.   We can only hope.

Geno Smith's Last 4 Games

WK	OPP	RESULT	PASSING										RUSHING				FUMBLES
			COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT	SCK	SCKY	RATE	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	FUM	LOST
13	MIA	L 3-23	4	10	40.0	29	2.9	0	1	1	8	8.3	1	2	2.0	0	--	--
12	@BAL	L 3-19	9	22	40.9	127	5.8	0	2	3	22	22.3	3	6	2.0	0	--	--
11	@BUF	L 14-37	8	23	34.8	103	4.5	0	3	4	30	10.1	1	0	0.0	0	2	1
9	NO	W 26-20	8	19	42.1	115	6.1	0	0	2	0	62.4	6	18	3.0	1	--	--

Is Geno's Turkey cooked?

     A lot has been said about Geno Smith's constant up and down performance, and so many have gone as far to say that the JETS would've be better off with Revis and Sanchez! WHAT A JOKE! We are so much better off (even winning) in this rebuilding phase that we are in now than we have been with the stagnant offenses we entertained the past two years. While I strongly believe Sanchez would've been awesome in Morningweg's system, I came to the conclusion after last season that Revis was twice the cancer that Holmes(WR) ever was and I was glad it was removed! Humor me for a second....
   
      We saw great Revis, oh man did we! Those first two years were spectacular, shutting down the best WRs in the game, he was the sole source of pride for the Jets as the most feared (perhaps even the best) defensive player in the NFL. But then we saw LITERALLY worthless Revis... In Revis' last two years, also his 2 most expensive as a Jet-were his worst performing years by far due to his lack of production which came from his injuries. Oh poor Darrelle :( His injuries were a result of his own greed and there is no one in sports that would tell you different. Had he not held out until week 1 and had he participated in both OTAs and the preseason like the rest of the team- he would have been in the shape he needed to be. Instead he was chumped in prime time by Moss for a TD and ended pulling up lame with the first of his two pulled hammies in two consecutive seasons. His greed singlehandedly handicapped the Jets the past two years and while he was home enjoying the games in him multi-million dollar mansion it was us Jet fans holding the bag freezing our asses off at Metlife. Giving up Revis was the single most profitable move in two years and our defense is head and shoulders better because of it-AND YOU KNOW IT! No Wilkerson, no Richardson and no Milliner (the weak link in recent weeks but he'll get better).
     Lets say Sanchez started 2013 and turned the ball over as many times as Geno has so far... Not

impossible to consider with his 2012 season so fresh in mind. When Sanchez had a staggering 26 turnovers (18 INTs & 8 Fumbles lost) with only 12 TDs.  Geno is on pace for a very disgusting 33 Turnovers and maybe 12-13 TDs this season if he doesn't get his act together. Would Sanchez have lost to the Pats in Week 2?  No way, not to that team on that day. The Titans two weeks later? Probably, that team outplayed us in every phase that day. Sanchez would have had to do something really spectacular to have pulled out that one and that Bengals game was a debacle from the start. But Mark could have beat the Steelers and def the Bill last week for sure... The difference? Sanchez is not a rookie anymore! Sanchez can take a hit and he can handle the pressure on and off the field (if you snickered at that, you are obviously not from NY). Smith took the biggest hit I've seen him take this season from Marcell Darius (DL) and I was glad to see it. Not because I want the kid to get hurt but because I want to see him take it! Thought it would be a great testament to the composure so many pundits say is Geno's strong suit. Its not and he didn't take it, he didn't take it at all. He was so shook for the rest of the game and everyone including Buffalo saw it. If you can't brush off that hit, especially after getting sidelined for a few minutes to pull yourself back together-your not built for the NFL. He finished the game with a 10.1 passer rating.  DUDE! I could do better! LOL And someone did...
       

 Matt Simms came in when Geno was finally pulled against the Bills and did a fantastic job! Finding Jeff Cumberland on his first drive for a TD to make the beating look slightly less painful. Do I think Simms is the man of our future? No, I think he has a lot of potential and after seeing Geno for 10 weeks I think he is head and shoulders a better option than Smith, but unfortunately fropm the VERY LITTLE I have seen-he's not our future franchise QB. I do think he is the best option we have on the team right now (Way better than Garrard) and he deserves more of a shot to salvage our playoff hopes before they dwindle away any more. I often fantasize that Simms is our Tom Brady in the making in regards to how Brady was a sleeper backup but that is just wishful thinking. Right or wrong the kid deserves a shot, Geno got his without putting in his dues-Simms has def put in his! The weakest of our weak links is at QB and with Sanchez having season ending surgery Simms is not just a good alternative- he is a great alternative.
         I swear I really like Geno, but he has not proven he can learn from his mistakes, he has not shown he can win consecutively and he has not shown to handle the pressure or the hits that come with being a big time QB. As it usually goes, the fate of our team rides on Geno's shoulders and without substantial improvement I am going to be saying I told you so. Ryan has teased the prospect of starting Simms over Geno if Smith blows the Baltimore game on Sunday but I strongly doubt it. God, I hope I'm wrong.
   

"Snacks" and Gang Green eat "STEEL" for breakfast!

         Anyone notice how spot on my prediction was for last week? Don't get used to it! We all know that on any given Sunday anything can happen!  One player can step up and ignite the team, one player can throw it all away! (GENO!) Last weeks win over Atlanta is in the books but serves as nothing more than an ego booster for us this week. We still have to play the game-and play it well! If we can take anything else from that clutch win over Atlanta, its that G-G-G-Geno & the Jets (yes its catchy and yes you heard it here first!) were making a statement-NO, A PROCLAMATION-and it sounded a lot like..."Bring on the PITTSBURGH STEELERS!"
       

         Big Ben and Co. come into JETlife stadium on Sunday at 1:00 pm winless (0-4) and coming fresh off of a bye week in which they have had AMPLE time to prep for the match-up. The JETS are coming off a short week after week 5 in Atlanta. The "Steel Curtain" has yet to steal a turnover this season and would be the first team in NFL history to go 5 games into the regular season without one but only if Gang Green can protect the football. Everyone knows that Polamalu isn't the same beast he was in his hay day but he is still definitely not someone a rookie like Geno can afford to take for granted. Especially when you combine him with the Steelers DB Coach who is Dick (freakin) Lebaeu! As one of the greatest defensive coaches in the NFL it is no surprise that he is 15-2 against rookie QBs, and with him at the helm of the defense of one of the most proud franchises in the NFL it would be a HUGE mistake to count him, Polamalu and the rest of the Steeler Defense out!

         Mo Wilkerson (DE 19 Tackles 4 Sacks) has deservedly emerged, according to the NY Daily News (not me-too early to know), as this season's best NFL player in the city of New York (Rutherford, NJ whatever)! But as fantastic as he has looked, there is no doubt in my mind that it is the collective effort of that entire defensive line and the competitive nature between them that makes Mo look so awesome. Sheldon Richardson (DT 24 Tackles 2.5 Sacks), "Snacks" Harrison (NT 15 Tackles 0 Sacks), veteran Calvin Pace (OLB 15 Tackles 2.5 Sacks) and, not that I even have to say, David Harris (MLB 42 Tackles, 1 Sack and 1 Forced Fumble!) make up one of the most aggressive defensive fronts in the NFL today.  Look for them to be just as aggressive early on versus a vulnerable Steeler offensive line who is with out starting Center Maurkice Pouncey whom they lost in week 1 to an injury. Big Ben will be Big Ben with his elusive self so be sure to watch and see if we can contain him, keep him in the pocket and then collapse it on top of him because that will be critical. Even with the depleted offensive line of the Steelers, Roethlisberger has still thrown for an avg of a little more than 300 yards per game. With Cromartie (CB) likely not at 100% due to a hyper-extended knee he incurred during practice Thursday, it will be critical to win at the line of scrimmage and not give Roethlesberger the time to find the open man versus a JETS less than 100% secondary.

NFL Ranking
Steeler Defense (YPG) 10th allowing avg 321 YPG
Steeler Offense  (YPG) 19th with an  avg 341 YPG
Steeler Offerse (Points)  29th with an avg 17 Pts per game (*only 4 games played)
JETS Defense    (YPG)   2nd allowing avg 299 YPG
JETS Offense     (YPG) 14th with an avg  350 YPG
JETS Offense    (Points)  22nd with an avg 20 Pts per game (*5 games played)

Game Prediction
NYJ to win 24-21 with another Folk Hero FG!

INJURY REPORT
NY JETS

NAME	POSITION	INJURY	WED.	THU.	FRI.	GAME STATUS
Aboushi, Oday	OL	Knee	LP	LP	LP	Questionable
Allen, Antonio	S	Finger	FP	FP	FP	Probable
Colon, Willie	OL	Knee	FP	FP	FP	Probable
Coples, Quinton	DE	Ankle	DNP	LP	LP	Probable
Cromartie, Antonio	CB	Hip/Knee	FP	LP	DNP	Questionable
Ellis, Kenrick	DT	Non-Injury	DNP	FP	FP	Probable
Gates, Clyde	WR	Knee	DNP	LP	LP	Probable
Goodson, Mike	RB	Illness	DNP	FP	FP	Probable
Holmes, Santonio	WR	Foot/Hamstring	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
Ivory, Chris	RB	Hamstring	LP	LP	LP	Probable
Jarrett, Jaiquawn	S	Knee	DNP	LP	LP	Probable
Milliner, Dee	CB	Hamstring	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out
Nelson, David	WR	Hamstring	-	LP	LP	Probable
Richardson, Sheldon	DT	Shoulder	FP	FP	FP	Probable
Walls, Darrin	CB	Shoulder	LP	LP	LP	Probable
Winslow, Kellen	TE	Knee	DNP	DNP	DNP	Doubtful

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

NAME	POSITION	INJURY	WED.	THU.	FRI.	GAME STATUS
Cromartie-Smith, DaMon	S	Hip	LP	-	-	-
Foster, Ramon	G	Pectoral	FP	FP	FP	-
Miller, Heath	TE	Coach's Decision	-	LP	FP	-
Roethlisberger, Ben	QB	Right Finger	FP	FP	FP	Probable
Wheaton, Markus	WR	Finger	DNP	DNP	DNP	Out

Don't drink the Kool-Aid at least until after week 4!

New York Jets Vs. Tennessee Titans

Sunday 9/29 @ 4:05 PM on CBS

       We all saw the game in Week 3 versus the Bills. It's too easy after a game like that to start daydreaming of finally getting back to the BIG GAME... and of course the big game is in NY which makes the sparkly lights that much prettier.  But I have to say STAY AWAY FROM THE KOOL AID! At least until after week 4! We can not just take these 3 games and see the streaks of Brilliance in coaching, see the brilliant poise of our new rookie QB, see the terrifically stout defensive line and the rock solid offensive front and think we are a lock! There are a few factors in this road game against a team just as hungry that we gotta see corrected and if we do...then I'll say OOOOOHHHHH YEEEAAAAAH!

Defensive Breakdowns and Penalties

       

As lock down as we have seen the Jets D these past weeks, there are consistently 2 or 3 breakdowns in coverage that lead to huge gains and these games are too close and the margin for error to small to allow that to continue.  We already know what happens when we let that happen versus Tennesse, last year the D fell asleep after stopping Johnson (Tenn-RB) for a loss but no one put him on the ground and he turned the corner and burned us for a really long TD. Last week both teams had a lot of penalties, hopefully Ryan's Push ups tactics worked and we can limit those mental mistakes. Titans do not force many penalties so lets not give them any freebies. In first 3 games: Titans-26 penalties for 246 yards/ NYJ- 34 penalties for 279 yards. 

Create Turnovers!

        They say with a rookie QB you have to expect mental mistakes and a few turnovers. The Jets are having a lot of trouble forcing the turnover on the other side of the ball and that needs to be corrected in order to keep us in the game. Locker has yet to turn the ball over and Geno has had multiple interceptions in each of the last 3 games. There are only so many games you will win with a negative turnover ratio and I don't think this will be one of them. Lockers been sacked 7 times already in the first 3 games, lets make sure he knows that week pressure he has seen the past two weeks was definitely not the same as the suffocating pressure Rex is going to put on him-lets get some strips while we're in there! Turnover ratios in first 3 games: Titans  -4    NYJ -6

Stay in Attack Mode

       Offensive line has been doing a great job of keeping Geno of the turf and I am confident they will be able to keep it up against this Titans offense. Mornhinweg has to keep his foot on the throttle and stick it to the Titans D early and often. I'm not saying that he has to keep going for the long ball, even though Geno is tied with Aaron freaking Rogers with the most plays of 20+ yards! Spread the offense with a few dink and dunks, a few slants and of course get Billal his carries and THEN go for that beautiful long ball to Hill and Holmes! Remember Geno... YOUR SHORT, Titans D isn't great but one thing they are good at is their pass defense keep your eyes up high and your release up higher!  

What does ESPN know anyway?

BEST FANS IN THE NFL PERIOD! (exclamation-whatever)

There are no greater fans in professional sports than JETS FANS! Which is why I must say that ESPN Mags assessment that we are second to last as a franchise and as fans out off 122 professional sports teams, second to last over the lowly Memphis grizzlies-really? Jets fans may groan like any other NFL fan but there is no fan more energetic, more driven, or more loyal than us and I believe that whole-heartedly. One of the reasons I love being a Jet fan. We Jets fans typically fit in one of two categories.... we are either way too eager to say "this is the year", or your that ridiculously pessimistic/vindictive fan that has been burned too many times to let yourself get caught up in the hype but too loyal to turn to big blue.   We will stand together for gang green through dismal years, through constant rebuilding, through one disappointing trade to the next. We will sit faithfully to the end of (almost) any game, in the freezing cold watching and waiting for that Jets magic in the weaning seconds and win or lose come the following Sunday-We support our team and we stand by our franchise.

  J-E-T-S J-E-T-S J-E-T-S